News26 Apr 2013


Aries Merritt among the latest stars set to be in New York - IAAF Diamond League

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Aries Merritt

With the adidas Grand Prix in New York City one month away, 10 of the best track and field athletes in the world have been added to the deep international field at the IAAF Diamond League meeting on 25 May.

Led by 2012 superstar Aries Merritt in the 110m Hurdles, the star-studded list includes four London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallists, three athletes ranked number one in the world for last year, and a World record holder. The popular Merritt is all three.

Last year, the 27-year-old American blasted to victory at the Olympics and then ran 12.80 in Brussels to obliterate the World Record.

Among Merritt’s opponents will be USA’s David Oliver, the 2008 Olympic Games bronze medallist.

Eight more stars have been announced for the ninth edition of this annual event.

USA’s Brittney Reese, the 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist and 2011 World champion in the Long Jump.

Brazil’s Fabriana Murer, the 2011 World champion in the Pole Vault, and her presence sets up a great battle with the USA’s 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Jenn Suhr and Great Britain’s rising young star and 2013 European indoor champion Holly Bleasdale.

USA’s Christian Cantwell, the 2009 World champion and 2008 Olympic Games silver medallist in the Shot Put, who has also won three World indoor titles. He will be against his regular rival and compatriot Ryan Whiting, the 2013 World indoor champion and number one in the world indoors this winter.

USA’s Stephanie Brown Trafton will face Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic in the Discus, which will be a duel of the past two Olympic gold medallists.

USA’s Morgan Uceny, who was the fastest women in the world over 1500 metres in 2011.

USA’s Ryan Bailey who, along with the previously announced Tyson Gay, helped the USA to the 2012 Olympic Games silver medal and American record in the 4x100m Relay.

In addition to Suhr, Bleasdale and Gay, previously announced athletes include David Rudisha, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Blanka Vlasic, Javier Culson, Jeremy Wariner, Bianca Knight and Michael Tinsley. This gives the adidas Grand Prix no less than 10 Olympic gold medallists, with more stars still to be announced.

Organisers for the IAAF

2013 IAAF Diamond League Calendar
Doha, QAT – 10 May
Shanghai, CHN – 18 May
New York, USA – 25 May
Eugene, USA – 1 Jun 
Rome, ITA – 6 Jun 
Oslo, NOR – 13 Jun 
Birmingham, GBR – 30 Jun 
Lausanne, SUI – 4 Jul 
Paris, FRA – 6 Jul 
Monaco, MON – 19 Jul 
London, GBR – 26-27 Jul 
Stockholm, SWE – 22 Aug 
Zürich, SUI – 29 Aug 
Brussels, BEL – 6 Sep

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